FRISCO, TEXAS — The Dallas Cowboys, who have finished building their structure for the 2024 NFL Draft, are in a real predicament with the exodus of free agents at several positions. There are several positions that need to be addressed, from linebackers to the offensive line to running backs to the defensive front. However, they currently only have seven picks, so a smart approach is needed.
When you look at their defensive line, especially the Interiors, you can't ignore the loss of Jonathan Hankins to the Seattle Seahawks and Neville Gallimore to the Miami Dolphins. Dallas, considering the attrition of these two shines brightly in both the starter and reserve areas.
But it's only been a year since they used a first-round pick for Madge Smith and a fourth-round pick for Biliami “Junior” Fehoko, and the Cowboys are back in the ring to target the position. Would you be interested in returning?
In our new series, “High Low,” we'll be digging deeper into this, with each edition focusing on a different position group heading into draft week.
Odds: High
Maji Smith: There's a lot of pressure on Smith to be a dynamic player in 2024 for several reasons. First, he becomes the team's first-round pick in 2023, the first time the Cowboys have selected Russell Maryland this high in the NFL draft in 1991. This is the second time he has been selected, and Maryland has future picks. A brilliant championship career. The other is that the safety net of Jonathan Hankins is no longer there, and Dallas hasn't added a veteran nose tackle to replace Hankins in free agency, so the team is looking for Smith to fill in after losing in the majors. It's clear that there are. He will need to have the weight as a rookie to dominate the interior like he did at Michigan.
Osa Odigizuwa: When you look inside the Cowboys' defensive line, Odighizuwa is the only player the team can truly point to and say “he's the guy” right now. Never one to rest on his laurels from his most recent breakout season, the veteran but still young three-tech is often a game-changer at his position. He can not only protect the run, but regularly disrupt the backfield and beat opposing quarterbacks, making him the perfect complement to what Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence have accomplished on the edge. . But while I don't want to be “that guy” here, I also need to remind you that 2024 is Odighizuwa's contract year and he should be uncomfortable given the current state of the position.
Chauncey Gholston: Golston is also in a contract year, but he has more to prove this season than Odighizuwa, considering Golston has been mostly relegated to special teams and has rotational duties on defense thus far. He was able to start the first three games of his career in 2023 and had occasional flashes, but his career-high number of sacks was limited to just 1.5 sacks. With Gallimore and Hankins both out, there's a good chance Golston, a former third-round pick (2021), could break out this time. The Cowboys certainly need him, but they'll just try to figure out his future soon after that.
Carl Davis: Returning for another try with the Cowboys is Davis, who was re-signed to a one-year deal this offseason, but is not necessarily a definitive player in case Madge Smith is unable to get a deal done for some reason. It cannot be treated as insurance. Please move forward. Davis feels like a quality player who could compete behind Smith this summer, but I wouldn't rule out the possibility that the Cowboys are also looking at the draft and continuing free agency. Davis, a 32-year-old journeyman who spent the second half of 2023 on the Cowboys' practice squad, will do his best to stay.
As you can see, there are too many question marks at the defensive tackle position for Dallas to completely ignore the position in this year's draft. In order to strengthen the depth of the team, there is a possibility that Junior Fehoko may be used in the interior at times, but since he is entering his second year without receiving snaps as a rookie, there is also a decision to be made there. There are many.
I can't imagine a scenario where the Cowboys use a premium pick here, but there's no need to rule anything out if a player like Byron Murphy or Tyvondre Sweat falls into their lap.
Otherwise, a Day 3 pick seems like the right decision.
